Rotary engine.



No. 856,739. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

B. A. SLADE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

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No. 856,739 PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

B. A. SLADE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLiOATION FILED JULY 30, 1906.

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No. 856,739. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. .B. A. SLADE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATIO'N FILED JULY 30, 1900.

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No. 856,739. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907- B. A. SLADE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1906.

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WZZrwssea 4 1707/6 mow 5.012. Slade BASIL ALFRED SLADE, OF LONDON,ENGLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed July 30,1906. Serial No. 328,471.

To (ZZZ- whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BASIL ALFRED SLADE, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, of 27 Charles street, Berkeley Square, London, in the county ofMiddlesex, England, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary motive power engines andpumps in which a central shaft passes through stuffing boxes in the endsof a cylinder, one or more curved radial pistons or arms being fixedupon the shaft and revolving with it in the cylinder, radial diaphragmssliding in chambers upon the periphery of the cylinder, and against thepistons, and steam being admitted and exhausted to or from the spacebetween the piston and the diaphragms in succession by means of pipesand valves actuated by cams; and the objects of my improvements are, tomake the driving shaft and piston work automatic ally entirely with outvalves, to provide means by which the direction of the revolution can bereversed, and to make the entire engine simple, effective, and durable.I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a motive powerengine having three radial diaphragms. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 isa transverse vertical section. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal verticalsection. Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of the front of theengine. Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of the front cover ofthe cylinder end. Fig. 7 .is an elevation showing the back of theengine, with the cover on the end of the cylinder removed. Fig. 8 is avertical longitudinal sec tion, on the line A-B (looking to the left) inFig.7 Fig. 9 is a modification of the engine in which only twodiaphragms are used. Fig. 10 illustrates another modification in whichthree diaphragms are used, themselves sliding in a revolving piston inan elliptical cylinder.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

a, (Figs. 2, 3, i, and 8) is the cylinder carried upon a supporting baseI).

c and d are strong ends bolted to the cylinder 0., through which thedriving shaft 9 passes, through stuffing boxes 6 and f.

h is the piston upon the shaft 9, extending radially completely acrossthe cylinder a, its outer ends h, 7L2 being curved (as shown in Fig. 3)to fit accurately in the cylinder at, and provided with spring packingat i. The sides connecting the two ends of the piston, are curved to amuch longer radius so as to leave spaces is, is between them and theinside of the cylinder (0. Both ends of the piston are made to fit, assteam tight as possible, against the two ends 0, d, of the cylinder at,(for which purpose spring packing may be used if necessary).

Z, Z, Z are radial equidistant closed chainbers round theoutercircumference of the cylinder a, in which fit and work sufficientlysteam-tight, three radially corresponding plates or diaphragms m, m, mEnlargements or extensions, n, 'n, n at the bottom of the chambers Z, Z,Z to which steam is supplied through passages at proper times, carry thesteam to one or other side of the diaphragms and to the space betweenthe latter and the revolving piston at 0, Fig. 3, while the exhauststeam is conveyed away through the same passages to the enlargements n,n, W, and thence through the passages through the piston to the exhaustpipe.

By admitting steam to one side of the diaphragm m, the piston 71 is madeto revolve in one direction, while by admitting it at the other side,the direction is reversed, the exhaust passages being similarly andsimultaneously changed.

Completely through the body of the piston, near its center, are fourpassages, 1, 1, and 2, 2, (see Fig. 3) concentric with the drivingshaft, the open ends of which fit closely (as they revolve) against theinner sides of the cylinder ends 0, (Z. On the outer face of thecylinder end a is a central projection or boss p, extending partlythrough which are two concentric grooves 3, 4, in such position thatthree openings, 5, 6, 7, through the bottom of the outer recesscorrespond with those 1, 1, through the piston, and three openings 8, 9,10, through the bottom of the inner recess 4 correspond with those 2, 2,through the piston.

g is a cover fitting over the boss 1) and screwed to the cylinder end a,and fitting round the stuffing box a (see Fig. 4) through which theshaft {1 passes. The cover q is provided with an inlet steam pipe 11,and an exhaust pipe 12, communicating with the re cesses 3 and 4respectivelyigjigThe other cylin-' v port 17 which passes out throughthe outer (or opposite) side of the cylinder end d into the inside ofthe cover 7', so that the steam coming through the passage in the pistonpasses into the T-shaped recess on the inner side of the cover (1 andthence into the cover 1* through a passage in the outside of the coverd.

The ends of the chambers Z, Z, Z are open, but are closed by radialprojecting parts Z 1, Z of the cylinder ends and d which are screwed tothem. Two passages 18 shown formed partly in the cylinder end (1 andpartly in the cover 1" are arranged parallel to each of the diaphragmsm, m, m their outer ends opening into the enlargements n, n, M, one uponeach side of the diaphragm, while their inner ends open through theouter face of the cylinder end (1, into the interior of the cover 1".

19 is a disk fitting into the interior of the cover 1 so as to occupythe space between the face of the cylinder (1, and the back of thecover 1. This disk 19 is provided with means by which it can be made torevolve through a part of a circle, (in Figs. and 6 a handle 20 is shownconnected with it and passing through a narrow slot 21 in the cover 1")and it has through it six openings of the shape shown at 2 in Figs. 5and 6. These openings are approximately triangular, their inner angle inone position coinciding and com municating with the passage 16 from theinlet passage through the piston, while in the other position of thedisk their inner passage is completely out off from the inlet in thepiston. At the same time, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the outer part ofthe openings form a communication (as the disk is turned) between one orthe other of the alternate passages and the enlargement n on theopposite side of the diaphragm, and the corresponding exhaust passagethrough the piston.

Where it is not desired that the direction of rotation of the engineshould be capable of being reversed the valve disk 19 may be omitted, orfixed, or may form part of the boss on the cylinder end (Z, one of eachpair of passages 18 being also omitted, steam being admitted from one ofthe passages 1 through the piston directly into one of the ports 13, 14,or 15, and thence, as the piston revolves, into one of the chambers 22,and

In Figs. 3, 4, and 8 is shown the method used to make the joint betweenthe ends of the diaphragms and the revolving pistons. 23 is a slidingpiece hinged to the inner end of the diaphragm m by a pin 24;, thejunction being made as nearly as possible steamtight. The end of thediaphragm is made in the form of a segment of a circle, in end view, at25, and the end of the sliding piece at 23 is hollowed and made to fitclosely and turn upon the circular end of the diaphragm. The outer endof the sliding piece is made somewhat concave and slides sufficientlysteam-tight over the surface of the piston as the latter revolves. Uponthe concave end 23 of the sliding piece are fixed spring packing strips26, the upper parts of which press against and work upon the convex endof the diaphragm, and they are shown fitting in grooves in the latter.Through the cen ter of the diaphragm m is a radial passage 27 openinginto the outer end of the chamber, in which the diaphragm m works, whilethe inner end of the passage branches out on 100 each side of thediaphragm, the ends being each opened and closed alternately by thespring packing strips 26 so that the space at the outer end of thechamber is connected alternately with steam and exhaust, and thediaphragm is pressed against the retreating surface of the revolvingpiston.

Ordinary means for lubrication are provided where necessary.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section showing a no modified form of the engine,in which two opposite diaphragrns are used, instead of three, the pistonbeing similar to that already described, and the distributing valves andpassages being of the same kind but suitably modified, and the sameletters of reference indicate the corresponding parts to those in theother figures.

Fig. shows another form of engine in which, instead of a cylinder achamber is used more or less elliptical in cross section, the chamberconsisting of two semi-cylindrical parts 28, 29, connected by a centralpart 30, the three parts being separately bored to fit a cylindricalpiston 31, fitted upon a driving shaft 9 and provided with radialchambers Z and diaphragms m, steam being admitted and exhausted throughpassagesand openings of a similar kind to those already described.

Where it is desired that the motor should work as a compound .engine,two diaphragms may be used arranged at unequal distances apart, theexhaust from the smaller chambers being used to supply the largerchamber. or, cylinders of similar circumference, but of greater width,may be placed side by side with the principal ones.

I have described the invention, with reference to the drawings,especially as applied to motive power engines, but by driving thepistons round by the driving shaft, instead of causing them to bedriven, it is evident that it may be used instead as a pump.

I am aware that, prior to my invention, rotary motive power engines andpumps have been made with cylinders in which revolve radial pistons upona driving shaft, operating in conjunction with radial diaphragms. I,therefore, do not claim such a combination broadly, but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a rotary motive power engine, of a cylinder (1,cylinder ends a, d, bearings and stufling boxes 6, f, shaft g, radialpistons it having curved surfaces on their sides 3' and ends 71, bradial diaphragms m, radial chambers Z, recesses or enlargements n,inlet passages 1, 1, and exhaust passages 2, 2, through the central partof the piston h, project-ing boss p, cover g, concentric recesses 3 and4, inletpipe 11, eX haust pipe 12, holes 5, 6, 7, from the recess 3, andholes 8, 9, 10 from the recess 4, cover 1 on cylinder end cl, centralrecess in cover 1", loose disk 19 in recess, passages 13, 14, 15, partlythrough cylinder end d opening at their outer parts through passages 17into openings 22 in disk 19, of such shape that steam admitted into themis directed in one position of the disk 19 into one of the radialpassages 18 and to one side of the diaphragm m, and when the disk 19 isturned, into the other of the parallel radial passages 18, and to theother side of the diaphragms, the radial passages 18 passing toenlargements at on one or other side of the diaphragm m, according tothe position to which the disk 19 is turned, and means for turning thedisk 19, all substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary motive power engine, having a cylinder, radial slidingdiaphragms, and a central driving shaft, the piston it having its outerends 72 7L2 curved to fit in the cylin der and its sides 9' whichconnect the ends h, h curved to a much larger radius so as to leavespaces 76, k between them and the inside of the cylinder, packing at i,i, in the ends h, hf of the piston, and concentric passages 1, 1, and 2,2, through the body of the piston for the inlet and outlet of steam, theinlet passages 1, 1., being at a greater radial distance from the centerthan the outlet passages, 2, 2, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rotary motive power engine, having a cylinder, a central drivingshaft and re volving piston, and radial sliding diaphragms, thecombination with the sliding diaphragms, of a concave sliding piece 23,pivoted by a pin 24 upon the rounded end of the sliding diaphragm m,spring packing strips 26, and a radial passage 27 having lateralopenings at its lower end each covered and uncovered alternately by thepacking strips 26, substanti ally as set forth.

4. The reversing disk 19 having pairs of triangular shaped openings 22,their outer longer side concentric with the edge of the disk and theirouter corners corresponding with the inner ends of the passages 18, andtheir inner corners corresponding with the opening 17 for the inlet ofsteam, substantially as set forth.

5. In a rotary engine, a cylindeiga central shaft, a radial pistonmounted on said shaft and revolving with it in said cylinder, aplurality of sliding diaphragms mounted to rotate said piston andprovided with inlet and exhaust passages for the steam, and meanscarried by said diaphragms for alternately opening and closing saidsteam passages, substantially as described.

6. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a central shaft, a radial pistonmounted on said shaft and revolving with it in said cylinder, aplurality of sliding diaphragms mounted in the periphery of saidcylinder, said diaphragms being adapted to rotate said piston and beingprovided with inlet and exhaust passages for the steam, swinging memberscarried by said diaphragms, and means carried by said diaphragms foralternately opening and closing said steam passages, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a central shaft, a radial pistonmounted on said shaft and revolving with it in said cylinder, aplurality of sliding diaphragms mounted in the periphery of saidcylinder, said diaphragms being adapted to rotate said piston and beingprovided with inlet and exhaust passages for the steam, swinging membersmounted on the inner ends of said diaphragms, and means connected to andactuated by said swinging members for alternately opening and closingsaid steam passages, substantially as described.

8. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a central shaft, a radial pistonmounted on said shaft and revolving with it in said cylinder, aplurality of sliding diaphragms mounted in the periphery of saidcylinder, said diaphragms being adapted to rotate said piston and beingprovided with a central steam passage and branch passages extending fromsaid In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my central passages near theinner ends thereof, hand in the presence of two Witnesses. swingingmembers mounted on the inner ends of said diaphragrns and packing stripscon- BASIL ALFRED SLADE' nected to said swinging members and actuat-Witnesses:

ed to alternately open and close said branch ARTHUR E. EDWARDS,

passages, substantially as described. D. K. BOYLE.

